Passion for saving energy?

If you have a bright energy-saving idea / product or have developed an innovative process to save electricity, you have a chance to win a prestigious eta Award as well as some handsome cash rewards!

The Department of Energy and Eskom invite innovative thinkers, young designers, industries, commercial companies, communication managers and home-owners… in short, all South Africans with a passion for energy savings! - to enter the competition which closes on 5 August 2011.

Energy efficiency is part of Eskom’s drive to ensure a sustainable electricity supply into the future. Given the significant emphasis placed on energy efficiency by the government of SA, the Minister of Minerals and Energy is the official patron of the eta Awards.

The 2010 Eskom eta Awards, in its 21st year, attracted hundreds of entries from South Africans in 2010 ranging from commercial and industrial applications for South Africa’s mines and factories, through to power-saving measures and innovations for lower-income areas and homeowners. Fittingly, eta is the Greek symbol for efficiency.

recognition time

South Africa’s energy savers come in many forms: learners wanting to make a difference, householders cutting costs, engineers and large companies working hard to reduce their use of electricity and save vital resources.

The eta Awards, sponsored by Eskom and endorsed by the Department of Energy, recognise those individuals and companies who are truly making a difference in terms of using energy efficiently.

‘Over the years we have been impressed by the range and ages of South Africans who are prepared to give up their time and apply their minds to the problem of saving energy. All entrants show a high degree of innovation in producing practical solutions to everyday energy problems,’ says Dr Steve Lennon, divisional executive (Corporate Services) at Eskom.

The 2011 categories, with cash prizes of R30 000 for the winners and R5 000 for the runners-up, are:

• Commercial - for the application of sound energy efficiency principles for at least 12 months in the commercial sector, for instance projects in hotels, shopping centres, businesses or hospitals.
• Industrial - for the application of sound energy efficiency principles for at least 12 months in the agricultural or industrial sector, for instance projects at manufacturing plants, smelters, mines, etc.
• Residential - for the application of sound energy efficiency principles for at least 12 months in the residential sector, such as people reducing their household consumption drastically or residential street lighting projects.
• Women in Communities - aimed at women who have a demonstrable impact in their communities in terms of sustainable energy or energy efficiency.
• Women in Industry - for women who have made a major impact in the energy sector and who have spearheaded a project with potential for replication in the rest of the industry.
• Young Designers - aimed at school-going children with a creative idea, programme, design or prototype that looks at the efficient use of energy and not the generation of energy.
• Power Fitness - aimed at communication managers within large corporates who have made an exceptional effort to promote energy efficiency to employees.
• Innovation - this new category recognises prototypes that reduce the energy consumption of equipment of buildings in any way, or brilliant ideas that could contribute to energy efficiency
• Entries are open for the 2011 eta Awards!

Tel: (011) 800-2365 or (044) 873 4013
Fax: 086 540 7470
Cell: 082 575 5692
E-mail: amroux@mweb.co.za
Web: www.eta-awards.co.za

Inti Solar’s Marlene Snowdon (top photo) was runner up for the category of Woman in Industry at the 2010 Eskom ETA Awards. Marlene was nominated a finalist due to the work she has done for communities and what she aims to achieve in the future, in supplying Free Hot Water and Solar Lighting to those who cannot afford it themselves.